Polyculture and fish yield in rice-cum-fish culture system in Dadin Kowa, Gombe, Nigeria

Abstract

Rice-cum-fish culture was carried out in Dadin Kowa rice fields, Gombe State, Nigeria with a view to determining the effect of different combination of Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromis niloticus and Cyprinus carpio on fish yield. Six rice paddy fields labeled A – C were used for the sudy. Raised riceseedlings (FARO 27) were transplanted in the paddies before flooding of water. The fsh species were stocked at 200 fish / pond in three repcates in dferent combinatons as treatments I, II and III. The fish were fed with wheat bran and rice bran at5 %body weght The lowest rce yed(2560 kg/ha) was obtained in the paddy where rice was grown without fsh. The fsh production recorded in treatment I (534 kg) is significantly higher (P < 005) than in other two treatments. I is thereore recommended that rice farmers using irrigaton facilities of the river Basin Development Authorities should adopt the rice-cum-fish system for increased rice and fish production in Nigeria

Keywords: Fish species combination, Rice-cum-fish culture, Fish yield